College Football Betting Preview: SMU Mustangs at Memphis Tigers

Seen this total get played down nearly a touchdown due to forecasted winds in the 20+ mph range. That’s an obvious concern for two teams in SMU and Memphis that like to throw the football. The passing games will still be on display but the deep shots could be limited. In terms of running the ball, SMU could have an advantage with stronger conference numbers than Memphis. Against AAC foes, the Mustangs average 5.2 ypc and 181.8 ypg. The Tigers are a notch below at 4.7 ypc and 150.7 ypg. Defensively, there isn't much that separates either squad. Memphis' overall numbers are slightly better but SMU's took a hit after back-to-back games against the potent offenses of UCF and Navy in which the defense allowed nearly 8 ypp combined.

I think the real storyline here is the seemingly inflated pointspread. Memphis is one of the hottest teams in the country having won and covered five straight (some got a push in 30-27 win over Navy). Read more

Very unique situation for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane as their trip to Tulane marks the third straight week they've faced an option-based offense. Despite failing to cover both contests vs. Navy and New Mexico, I came away somewhat impressed with Tulsa's defense. After allowing over 9 yards per play to up-tempo Oklahoma State, UL-Lafayette and Toledo, the Golden Hurricane held the Midshipmen and Lobos to 47 points and 6.6 ypp combined. Saturday's game marks another situation where Tulsa's stop unit should perform at an adequate level as Tulane ranks 102nd nationally in total offense vs. Navy and New Mexico who rank 18th and 38th, respectively.

Tulane's defense is talented and has the potential to be the best unit in the AAC. They aren't necessarily built to stop top-tier attacks (Oklahoma hung 56 points and 10.2 ypp) but Tulsa's offense, specifically its passing game, has taken a big step back this season following the departure of Read more

College Football Betting Preview: Tulane Green Wave at Oklahoma Sooners

I cashed a winning free play here in the blog last week on the Tulane Green Wave in their spread covering loss as double-digit underdogs against Navy. I think they are worth another endorsement as they head to Norman to face the Oklahoma Sooners. Tulane has opened the season 1-1 SU but more importantly 2-0 ATS. This is a squad that has taken major strides under the watch of second-year head coach Willie Fritz. The triple option offense has been firmly established and the level of execution, particularly along the offensive line, has gotten better as the Green Wave have averaged 243 ypg on the ground at a 5 ypc. They’ve also found a better quarterback this season with Jonathan Banks who with a 65% completion rate, 3 TDs and no INTs has shown the ability to throw the ball. Unfortunately, Banks was knocked out of the Navy game due to injury but Johnathan Brantley filled in admirably. The potential loss of Banks, while not ideal, Read more

College Football Betting Preview: Tulane Green Wave at Navy Midshipmen

Tulane struggled in Willie Fritz’s first season on the job (4-8) be he has a very distinguished history of his teams improving from Year 1 to Year 2. Central Missouri jumped from 5-6 to 8-3 in Fritz's second year. At Sam Houston State; 6-5 to 14-1. And most recently, Georgia Southern where the Eagles went 8-4 and reached the postseason. It is reasonable to expect an uptick at Tulane and I think it happens thanks to one of the better defenses in the AAC. Eight starters are back from a unit that allowed only 364.5 ypg. And in last year’s very competitive 21-14 loss to Navy, Tulane held the Midshipmen to a respectable 287 yards and 5.2 ypc on the ground both marks below Navy’s seasonal averages (310 rypg/5.9 ypc). Offensively, Tulane may have found one of their most talented quarterback in some time with JC transfer Jonathan Banks earning Read more

It's been a rough season for Tulane under first-year head coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. The Green Wave are 3-12 overall and 0-3 in AAC play; outclassed by UCF, Cincinnati and Memphis. The main issue has been defense. Despite playing a fairly soft schedule in terms of opposing offenses (304th nationally), Tulane is allowing 1.11 points per possession and an alarming 41% from three. And because of wanting to play up-tempo, only two of Tulane's games have featured less than 70 possessions. South Florida is far from competent on the offensive end but you'll notice that much of their schedule features slow paced, defensive-minded teams. The Bulls' first three AAC opponents, ECU, Houston, and SMU certainly fit that profile hence USF's outputs of 49, 56, and 65 points. But perhaps last game's 65-point effort at SMU was a sign of better things to come. It was the team's first game following the firing of Orlando Antigua. He was replaced by veteran Murry Bartow who spent much of his head coaching career at UAB and ETSU. Bartow's teams were generally fast paced and offensive-minded and I expect the Bulls to Read more

College Football Betting Preview: Memphis Tigers at SMU Mustangs

My clients and I cashed a 20* AAC Game Of The Year winner against Memphis last week when Tulsa walloped them 59-30 as underdogs. I see another opportunity this week to do the same as they trek to Dallas to face an improving SMU Mustangs squad. Memphis is on a 2-3 SU, 0-5 ATS slide including a winless 0-3 ATS record in three road games at Ole Miss, Tulane and Navy. Memphis has allowed 5.5 yards per play and 5 yards per rush this season and have surrendered 1,659 total yards and 128 points in three of their last four games in conference play against Temple, Navy and Tulsa. The Tigers have been unable to stop the run or the pass and have been outgained by 88 yards or more in four of their last five contests. The offense is no doubt capable but it hasn’t been enough to overcome their woeful stop unit.

SMU on the other hand is far healthier than it was as earlier this season and as a result, the Mustangs are playing their best football. They've covered three straight Read more